The research activities focus on the synthesis and characterization of polymeric functional materials for a variety of biomedical, pharmaceutical and technological applications. Particular interest is devoted to Biomaterials, Molecularly Imprinted Polymers, Graft Polymers, Functional Polymers and Stimuli Responsive Hydrogels. Furthermore, great interest is focused on the study of functional foods and nutraceutics.

In details: Stimuli Responsive Materials

Design of materials able to recognize and/or release molecules of biological interest in response to external stimuli such as pH, temperature, electric and magnetic fields, UV.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Molecular imprinting are very useful technique to incorporate specific substrate recognition sites into polymers. Molecular recognition characteristics of these polymers are attributed to complementary size, shape, and binding sites imparted to the polymers by the template molecules. Molecularly Imprinted Polymers are useful materials for the selective recognition, recovery and release of molecule of biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental interest.

Functional Polymers

Development of new methodologies for the synthesis and/or covalent functionalization of natural and synthetic polymers (soluble and/or cross-linked) to confer them biological activities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, etc.).